Timing mechanism



Nov. 29, 1938. F. a. NlcoL us TIMING MECHANISM Filed 'July 1, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Invezzzof Nov. 29, 1938. F. G. NIQOLAUS 2,138,243

TIMINGWMECHAN'ISM Filed July 1, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J Till! 13 Ed ljlk I Inventor"- Fran/rGNzbolaw I By ll I F I Nov. 29, 1938 'rmnve unonamsm Frank G. Nioolaus, Chicago, Ill, assignor to mom! '1. Moloney, Chicago, Ill.

Bay-

,Applioatiqm my 1, i938, senai No. aiesss 14 Claims.

The invention relates to a timing deviceo and more particularly an electro-m'echanical timer useful for controlling a plurality of switches and circuits to determine respectively their time and 5 period of operation.

It is desirable to provide such timer in simple, compact form, that will operate quietly and effectively, without getting out of order.

The main object of the invention is to provide an improved electro-mechanical timing mechanism.

Another object is to provide such a timer at a minimum of expense.

Still another object is to provide a timer in which the cycles oi holding various electrical circuits eifectivemay be predetermined, as de sired.

- Other important objects will become apparent to those skilled in this art as the disclosure is more fully made.

These desirable objects may be achieved by the illustrative embodiment herein disclosed, wherein an electric motor drives reductiongearing, which in turn through a friction coupling drives a set of cam wheels operating together as a unit,

said wheels having notches, with the notches in all wheels offset angularly with respect to one another. Associated with each cam wheel is a respective spring blade switch in such a manner control a switch and circuit for the electro magnetic lock device all as and for a purpose more fully to be described.

In the drawings showing a practicable example of the invention:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the improved timer unit;

Figure 5 is a face view of a typical cam wheel;

and, I

Figure 6 is a detail, fragmentary cross sectional view to show the friction drive for the cam wheel unit.

The timer embodies a suitable frame I0, an end of which suitably carries a sub-frame Ii, said sub-frame in turn carrying an electric motor l2. 5

Said motoris of astandard type having a rotor, not shown, which is connected to drive appropriate reduction gearing it supported within the frame part H. The final gear of said gearing is fast on and drives a horizontal main shaft lfi, one end of which is Journaled in the 'frame ii while the other end of the shaft is journaled inthe opposite end of the main frame In and in fact extends therethrough with nuts it at the free end thereof. A spring iii encircles this por-- tion of the shaft and is under compression to exert a force against the end I! of a sleeve 88 coaxially disposed loosely on the shaft as shown. Carried fast on the shaft l4 between parts of the sleeve I8 is a disk wheel [9 having arranged near its periphery and extending normal from one face thereof, six, parallel pins 20, said wheel with its pins turning in a vertical plane in which is posltioned a normally open-spring blade switch it having an end of one blade shaped best to be engaged by the pins 20. is switch 2! is carried from an insulated bloc 22 on a transverse support 23 carried by the frame ill, in the manner shown. The pin wheel l9 constitutes a mechanical circuit maker and breaker for circuit wires 24, 25, the wire 24 going to an electromagnetic 1 device 26 carried in a bracket 21' attached to one end of the frame ill by screws 28.

Looking at Figure 4, it willbe seen that the pins 20 are angularly variously spaced with respect to one another. This uneven spacing, no two of which are alike, serves an important purpose in holding closedthe circuit to said electromagnet 28. For this. reason the pin wheel It may betermed a variatcr. The electromagnet 26 has a movable core 29 formed at its exposed free end with a detent 30, a spring 3i in the device acting normally to push outwardly on the core 29 in thewell known manner.

This detent 30 normally rides against one face of a motor control cam wheel 32 having a single peripheral notch 33, said wheel being made of insulation material and carried loosely on the shaft l4, said wheel at angularly spaced intervals being formed with radial slots 34 in a circle corresponding to the relative path followed by the detent 30 so that as the wheel 32 turns the detent 30 is pushed by the spring 3| into the slots 34; of course, one at a time. When the detent 30 so enters a slot 34 it serves to lock the cam wheel Iiicam wheels 35, by way of example, are also aimilarly, loosely carried on the shaft i4, each said wheel 35 having a cam drop of! portion or notch 33, as indicated. Each wheel 35 will have its drop off portion of a length, depth and angular position varying from that of the others; all of these wheels being parallel and made of insulation material. Cross shafts or bolts 31 are passed through all of these wheels 32 and 35 to secure them together so that they must turn as a unit and keep their fixed relative positions with regard to their cam portions. Collars 33 serve as spacers around the shaft |4 between said cam wheels, as shown, and similar spacer collars 33 are disposed on the bolts 31 between these wheels. On the outside face of the wheel 32 is positioned a friction felt disk driver element 43 and on the outside face of the end wheel 35 is a similar driver element 4|, the sleeve l3, through spring I 6, serving to press all of these loose parts 35, 38- frictlonally together, in an obvious manner.

Associated respectively with each cam wheel 35 is a spring blade switch 42, a similar switch being also associated with the first cam wheel 32. As seen in Figures 2 and 3 these switches are carried by insulated blocks 43 on the cross support 23, the lower blade of each said switch being formed best to ride the periphery of its corresponding wheel to keep the switches closed and also to cooperate with the drop of! cam notch therein to open the switches.

From the switch 42 for the wheel 32 leads a wire 44 from one blade to a source of energy,

indicated by the plug 45, while a wire 45 leads from the other blade thereof to a starting switch 41. A tap 48 goes from wire 46 to the motor l2 and from said tap 48 the wire 25, heretofore described, is lead to the switch 2 From the source of energy a wire 49 goes to the other side of the motor, and a tap 53 from wire 43 goes to one side of the coil 26, as shown best in Figure 1. From each of the switches 42, except the one for wheel 32, are lead respective, separate and individual circuits to any electrical desired devices whatsoever, not shown, that may be included therein. This completes the detail description of the various parts.

In operation the plug 45 is connected with a source of energy and when the switch 41 is momentarily closed the motor I2 is energized and drives the gearing l3, shaft i4 and pin wheeli9. Thus, all wheels 35 and wheel 32 turn as a. unit.

Consequently wheel 32 as it starts causes cam notch 33 to leave the end of the lower blade of the switch 42 to cause the latter .to close as it rides the periphery of the said wheel 32. This keeps a motor circuit 48, 44, 43 closed to keep the motor, shaft l4, and pin wheel l3 turning. The device 26 is normally deenergized since its control switch 2| is normally open. Consequently, the instant a slot 34 on wheel 32 presents itself to the detent 33 it is snapped by the spring 3| into said slot 34 to lock the wheel 32 and, of course, all wheels 35 therewith against turning. The friction elements 43 and 4| come into action to prevent damage while the shaft |4 continues to rotate under such circumstances.

It may be at the exact instant that the detent 33 is about to engage in a slot 34 that one of'the pins 23 on the variator wheel I3 is engaging and closing the switch 2|. If this should be so, of course, the circuit 24, 53, 43, 45, 44, 42, 43 and 25 is closed to energize the device 25 to retract the core 23 and pin 33 so that the wheel 32 and, of course, with it the wheels 35 are free to continue turning. As the wheels turn the switches 42 are, at different angular points, opened by the various respective cam drop oils of the wheels so that the several circuits 5| are at different times and for various periods held energized. The variator control of pins 23 on switch 2| and lock device 33 further governs the timing and cycles in an obvious manner. By substituting a different wheel l3 for the one shown with different pin spacings or numbers thereof, a different timing effect can be had. When the detent 33 holds the wheel 32 and the other wheels 35 with it, the rotation thereof once more starts Just as soon as a pin i3 acts to close switch 2| to release the lock 33. In this fashion we have a friction coupling drive in which the drive motor l2 remains energized whether motor control wheel 32 stands still or turns; that is, until said wheel 32 has completed one revolution and the notch 33 thereof acts finally to open the switch 42 to break the motor circuit. It will be recalled that the starting switch 41 was initially only momentarily closed and that after the motor started the switch 42 for wheel 32 kept the motor energized, so that when the switch 42 hits notch 33 it follows the motor becomes dead. It can now be seen that the wheels 35 under the control action of their respectively offset cam portions, the variator pins 23, and wheel 32, all cooperate to time the effectiveness and duration of the circuits for the motor as well as the circuits 5| for whatever purpose they may be used. Thus, the closed time for all wheel switches is varied. The wheels always start, turn step by step, and complete one revolution back to the starting point and their stop. All wheels turn as a unit and stop'as a unit. The cam wheel 32 has only one notch and the motor always returns the parts to this starting point.

From this detailed description it is now apparent that a novel timing mechanism has been provided which achieves the desirable objects heretofore recited.

It is the intention to cover all changes and modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a timing mechanism comprising a frame, a shaft journaled therein, an electric motor including connections to drive the shaft, cam wheels loosely mounted on the shaft, friction means between the shaft and wheels to drive the latter, a switch for each wheel carried by the frame, each switch being held closed by the respective cam wheel periphery and being included in respective electric circuits, each wheel having a notch to cause opening of the corresponding switch and circuit, one wheel and corresponding switch serving to govern the operation of the motor, and means intermittently to interrupt the turning of said wheels through a single revolution thereof while the motor and shaft continue to run.

2. In a timing mechanism comprising a frame, a shaft journaled therein, an electric motor including connections to drive the shaft, cam wheels loosely mounted on the shaft, friction means between the shaft and wheels to drive the latter, a switch for each wheel carried by the frame, each switch being held closed by the respective cam wheel periphery and being included in respective electric circuits, each wheel having a notch to cause opening of the corresponding switch and circuit, one wheel and corresponding switch serving to govern the operation of the amass P motor, and means acting on said one wheel to stop same and with it the other wheels while the motor and shaft continue to turn, and means controlled by the turning shaft to release said one wheel to enable further turning of the wheels, said motor coming to rest when said one wheel has madea complete revolution.

3. In a timing mechanism comprising a frame, a shaft journaled therein, an electric motor including connections to drive the shaft, cam wheels loosely mounted on the shaft, friction means between the shaft and wheels to drive thelatter,

a switch for each wheel carried by the frame, each switch being held closed by the respective cam wheel periphery and being included in respective electric circuits, each wheel having a notch to cause opening of the corresponding switch and circuit, one wheel and corresponding switch serving to govern the operation of the motor, and means acting on said one wheel to stop same and with it the other wheels intermittently while the motor and shaft continue to turn, and means turning with the shaft for causing release of the wheels at irregular intervals for further turning, said motor coming torest when the wheels have made a complete revolution.

4. In a timing mechanism comprising a frame, a shaft journaled therein, an electric motor including connections to drive the shaft, cam wheels loosely mounted on the shaft, friction means between the shaft and wheels to drive the latter, a switch for each wheel carried by the frame, each switch being held closed by the respective cam wheel periphery and being included in respective electric circuits, each wheel having a notch to cause opening of the corresponding switch and circuit, one wheel and corresponding switch serving to govern the operation of the motor, and means comprising an electromagnet having a spring urged core formed with a detent to engage a face of said one wheel and enter openings formed in said wheel to stop same intermittently to interrupt turning thereof while the motor and shaft continue to turn, a circuit for said electromagnet, and a circuit maker and breaker tumable with the shaft to cause functioning of the electromagnet and movement of the detent to release the wheel with the openings for intermittent turning movement with the other wheels, said motor and shaft coming to a position of rest when the wheels have made one revolution.

5. In a timer, a frame, a shaft journaled therein, an electric motor having connections to turn the shaft, acam wheel loose on the shaft, a friction coupling between the shaft and wheel to drive the latter, a circuit for the motor including a switch supported by the frame and engaging the periphery of the wheelto hold the circuit closed and the motor running, said wheel having a notch therein to cause the switch to open, means for intermittently interrupting turning movement of the wheel without stopping the motor and shaft, and means operable from the shaft to make the interrupting means ineffective.

6. In a timer, a frame, a shaft joumaled therein, an electric motor having connections to turn the shaft, a cam wheel loose on the shaft, 9. friction coupling between the shaft and wheel to drive the latter, a circuit for the motor including a switch supported by the frame and engaging the periphery of the wheel to hold the circuit closed and the motor running, said wheel having a notch therein to cause the switch to open, other cam wheels looseon the shaft and tumable with the first mentioned wheel. means tying all of said wheels together, means for intermittently interrupting turning movement of the wheels I without stopping the motor and shaft, switches turning shaft to cause turning of said wheels after 7 their movement has been interrupted.

7. In a timer, a frame, a shaft iournaled thereon, an electric motor including connections to drive the shaft, rotary circuit making and breaking means loosely carried on the shaft, friction drive means between the shaft and said means, means to lock the rotarymeans against turning while the motor and shaft continue rotation, and means controlled by the shaft to release the rotarymeans for further turning.

8. In a timer, a frame, a shaft ,lournaled thereon, an electric motor including connections to drive the shaft, rotary circuit making and breaking means loosely carried on the shaft, friction drive means between the shaft and said means,

means engageable with a portion of the rotary means at intervals releasably to hold same temporarily against turning while the shaft and motor continue to turn, and means operated by the shaft to cause release of the holding means at irregular intervals to producev irregular intermittent turning movement of the rotary means,

9. In a timer, 9. frame, a shaft journaled thereon, an electric motor including connections to drive theshaft, rotary circuit making and breaking means loosely carried on the shaft, friction drive means between the shaft and said means, a detent associated with the rotary means and acting at intervals to engage and temporarily hold same against rotation, an electromagnetic device to release the detentto free the rotary means for further turning, a circuit for the device including a normally open switch positioned adjacent the shaft, and a wheel tumable with the shaft having means to engage and close the switch momentarily to energize the device whereby the rotary means may again turn.

10; In a timer, a frame, a shaft journaled thereon, an electric motor including connections to drive the shaft, rotary circuit; making and breaking means loosely carried on' the shaft, friction drive means between the shaft and said means, a detent associated with the rotary means and acting at intervals to engage and temporarily hold same against rotation, an electromagnetic device to release the detent to free the rotary means for further turning, a circuit for the device including a normally open switch positioned adjacent the shaft, and a wheel tumable with the shaft having means to engage and close the switch momentarily to energize the device whereby the rotary means may again turn, said wheel having a plurality of irregularly-spaced pins extending therefrom, which pins coact with said switch to close same.

11. In a timer, a frame, a shaft journaled therein, an electric motor having connections to turn the shaft, a cam wheel loose on the shaft, a friction coupling between the shaft and wheel to 'drive the latter, a circuit for the motor including a switch supported by the frame and engaging the peripheryof the wheel to hold the circuit ,closed and the motor running, said wheel having a notch therein to cause the switch to open, said wheel having angularly spaced openingstherein, a spring pressed detent engaging the wheel and aadpted to engage in said openings individually, thus locking the wheel while theshaft continues closed and the motor running, said wheel having anotch therein to cause the switch to open, said wheel having angularly spaced holes therein, a spring pressed detent engageable in said holes to lock the wheel with the shaft still turning, electromagnetic means to release the detent to free the wheel, a circuit for the electromagnetic means, and means operable from the turning shaft for making and breaking said last circuit at 20 intervals.

13. In a timer, 9. supported continuously turning shaft, an electric motor to drive same, rotary circuit making and breaking means loose on the shaft, a friction coupling between the shaft and means to drive the latter, means for temporarily locking the first means at intervals against turning, and means controlled by the turning shaft to unlock the first means at intervals for turning with the shaft.

14. In a timer, a supported continuously turning shaft, an electric motor to drive same, rotary circuit making and breaking means loose on the shaft, means for causing the first means to make a single revolution and then come to rest with the motor and shaft dead, a friction coupling between the shaft and first means to drive the latter, means for automatically and temporarily locking the first means against turning, and means controlled by the turning shaft for automatically unlocking the first means at intervals for further turning movement.

FRANK G. NICOLAUS. 

